Tyler Stahl to captain the Victoria Royals

Tyler Stahl celebrates a goal during practice on Monday morning at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre. The 20-year-old defenceman is the newest captain of the Victoria Royals.

Tyler Stahl became the tenth captain in the history of the Victoria Royals franchise on Monday, anointed by head coach Dave Lowry.

Stahl, of Drumheller, Alta., was drafted by the Carolina Hurricanes, 167th overall (sixth round) in 2010, and is in his fourth season with the club. The 20-year-old actually played one regular season game with the Chilliwack Bruins in 2007-08, making him the longest standing member of the team, though Tim Traber, 19, is also in his fourth season.

“This is a choice that was made as a group. I like his willingness to compete and play hard. We like his presence on the ice, the leadership he presents and he has the respect of his teammates,” Lowry said.

“We did it in a democratic fashion, the players had a voice. We knew who the logical choices were and the players’ choices were close to that.”

Stahl takes over from Hayden Rintoul, and Brandon Manning before that, when the team was in Chilliwack. He’s the seventh captain to wear the ‘C’ outright, and the fourth straight defenceman.